CRIME: Suspect ordered to trial in 2003 Carlsbad slaying

A man suspected of gunning down his ex-lover and her cousin behind a Carlsbad taco shop and fleeing to Mexico nearly a decade ago was ordered Monday to stand trial for the crimes.

Gilberto Mendoza Castillo, 38, could face up to 85 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges, including the 2003 murder of Maria Munoz ---- a 31-year-old mother of three ---- and the attempted murder of her cousin, Miguel Silva.

Carlsbad police Detective James Willis testified that Castillo confessed to the shootings in an interview soon after Mexican authorities turned him over earlier this year.

Castillo had worked with Munoz and Silva at Cessy's taco shop on Carlsbad Boulevard near Carlsbad Village Drive.

At some point, Castillo and Munoz became involved in a sexual relationship, during which Castillo became increasingly controlling, Willis testified.

"She broke up with him because he didn't like that she had friends and would go out to do things with them," Willis said.

Castillo told police that after the breakup, he began to suspect that Munoz was dating her cousin, Silva, whom he had met at one of Munoz's family gatherings, the detective said.

It made him angry, so he bought a gun from his uncle's neighbor and practiced loading it in his apartment ---- he had never fired a gun before, Willis said.

On Dec. 7, 2003, Castillo drove his black Ford Mustang to the taco shop and waited for Munoz to arrive. He had planned to shoot her and Silva, Willis testified.

Castillo was almost ready to give up when he spoke with a woman who worked there and learned that Munoz was on her way to give Silva a ride home, Willis said.

So Castillo decided he'd wait a few more minutes, Willis said.

A silver Ford Explorer that looked like the one Munoz drove pulled into the parking lot.

As Silva walked up to the front passenger door to get in, Castillo walked over to the driver's side window and drew his gun.

Castillo couldn't tell for sure it was Munoz, but he told police the silhouette looked like her, Willis testified.

Castillo opened fire, striking Munoz six times in the left side of her chest. Bullets also struck Silva in his abdomen and genitals, Willis and other detectives testified.

Munoz slumped forward against the steering wheel and the SUV rolled forward. Castillo saw Silva on the ground and fired more shots at him, striking him in the abdomen and neck, detectives said.

Silva was hospitalized with severe injuries and survived the attack, detectives said. He told detectives he saw Castillo leave in a black Mustang and head down Carlsbad Village Road toward Interstate 5.

Castillo told police he drove down to Ocean Beach. He threw the gun and his cellphone into the water and sat on a bench for a while. Then he drove down to Tijuana and eventually met up with his cousins, according to testimony.

He lived there until this year.

Castillo was arrested in Tijuana in May. Mexican police turned him over to U.S. authorities at the San Ysidro border crossing.